Type in the keywords that you’re interested in targeting. In this case, I’m using “buy shoes” as an example.

Then, Wordstream’s tool will show you a list of the top keywords surrounding that search. It’ll list the keywords in the order of highest search volume at the top to lowest search volume at the bottom.

Why is this so important? Well, it helps you prepare for micro-moments with voice search and text search by determining exactly what people are searching.

Once you know that, targeting your prospect’s high-commitment moments is simply a matter of selecting the keywords.

Choose the ones that represent micro-moments and create content and web pages around those keywords.

In the above example, for instance, the keywords that represent the highest commitment are probably “shoebuy,” “shoes online,” and “discount shoes.”

These are the moments that people opt-in, buy, and, ultimately, help your bottom line.

And often, these moments happen during voice search. To leverage their potential, select the keywords that represent these high-commitment gold mines.

2. Prepare for more long-tail keywords

When people are searching vocally rather than by typing, the long-tail keywords shine.

What is a long-tail keyword?

It’s simply a keyword that is longer, and generally less common, than short keywords.

For instance, “Buy shoes” would be a short keyword, and “Buy blue basketball sneakers” would be a long-tail version.

As you can see, the long-tail keyword is more specific than the generic one.

And since it’s more specific, there is generally less competition surrounding it. In particular, these keywords are the heartbeat of voice search.

Why?

Because when people are talking instead of texting, they tend to use longer keywords.

This means that, in order to optimize your SEO strategy for voice search, you need to pay special attention to long-tail keywords.

You might, for instance, want to go against the grain and consider keywords that include filler words and prepositions.

In other words, you should target keywords that mimic the way people speak.

In the end, your customer avatar sheet should look something like this.

The more specific you are, the better you’ll understand your target market. Treat your customer avatar like they’re an individual, a real person.

Then, create content and web pages that cater directly to their pains, needs, wants, and desires.

There’s no better way to prepare your website for voice searchers than by understanding the people who are behind the microphone.

6. Use content marketing to increase top-of-funnel generation

Many voice searchers are seeking out how to do something. They want to know how to cook a certain vegetable, fix their car, or swaddle their baby.

All of those questions make for great top-of-the-funnel content marketing topics for you to target.

Simply do some keyword research to seek out the top questions your ideal customer might have and then create content targeting those exact keywords.

I know that optimizing for top-of-the-funnel SEO strategies can sometimes feel like a waste of time. But if you don’t get people to enter your funnel, you won’t be able to get them to purchase and become an existing customer.

That’s probably why 86% of B2C marketers are using content marketing as part of their outreach strategy.

Content marketing does a great job of capturing the “how-to” queries of voice searchers.

These searches aren’t necessarily high-commitment. But if you’re the person to help them with well-placed content when they need it, the chances are good that they’ll return to you when they are ready to buy.

7. Build a mobile-responsive website

You probably know how important it is to have a mobile-responsive website.

The number of devices that people search on today (desktop, mobile, and tablet) requires your website to quickly and easily adapt to the device it’s viewed on.

If it doesn’t, then the experience seems lazy and under-performing to the viewers.

In fact, 57% of customers wouldn’t recommend a brand with a bad mobile experience, 40% have gone to the competition after visiting a bad mobile site, and 23% have cursed at their phones when a site didn’t work.

And with voice search, this is even more important.

Why?

Because people who search using voice are usually using a mobile device. They aren’t using a computer or tablet.

If the test shows that your website isn’t mobile-friendly, then you might want to consider using a website-creation service that automatically optimizes for mobile. WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace are a few options.

8. Test and iterate as often as possible

Nothing is arguably more important for your website’s voice search optimization than the ability to test and iterate your strategy.

Voice search has been around the digital globe for some time now, but only recently has it become a viable and sought-after option for searching online.

Most voice search tools can understand human speech far more accurately now than they once were able to.

That means that people are more confident about using the voice search feature on their mobile device.

Since voice search is just now finding its footing, testing and iteration are increasingly important.